Spotlight: Elements of the philosophy of plants (Edinburgh, 1821)

Elements of the philosophy of plants by Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle and Kurt Sprengel is the first edition in English of a composite work by two of the most eminent botanists of the early 19th century. The first three parts on nomenclature, theory of classification, and descriptive botany are from a work by de Candolle, while the final part on the structure and nature of plants is by Sprengel. This book was recently adopted through our Adopt-a-Book program by George Gwynn Hill.

When you participate in the Adopt-a-Book program, you significantly increase the Libraries’ ability to purchase essential new books and to preserve rare books and manuscripts used by researchers in the Smithsonian’s 19 museums, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo, and around the world. When a book is adopted, a bookplate will be added in your name to the book and a virtual bookplate will be created for you in our online catalog. All donations to the Adopt-a-Book program are tax-deductible. Donors will receive a gift acknowledgment from the Smithsonian Libraries Advancement Office and a tax receipt from the Smithsonian Institution. To adopt books like Elements of the philosophy of plants, visit our websiteor call 202.633.2241.

(Full title: Elements of the philosophy of plants: containing the principles of scientific botany; nomenclature, theory of classification, phytography; anatomy, chemistry, physiology, geography, and diseases of plants: with a history of the science, and practical illustrations.)